Turin Transfer Market: Eyes on Rio for Midfield Reinforcements

Among the players who have caught the eye of a particularly active Torino in recent days is Facundo Bernal, a Uruguayan midfielder currently playing for Fluminense in Brazil. The Granata club has reportedly begun closely monitoring the player.

Bernal is a defensive midfielder with strong defensive attributes, particularly effective at winning the ball back and in aerial play—qualities further enhanced by his physical build (he is 1.80 meters tall). He also stands out for his ability to manage possession and his good vision on the field. There is still room for improvement in terms of scoring and dynamism, but his young age works in his favor: he is currently 22 and will turn 23 in August.

According to reports, Torino’s sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has not only been monitoring the player but has already initiated preliminary talks to assess the feasibility of moving forward with negotiations.

The Rio de Janeiro club had acquired Bernal in the summer of 2024 from Defensor Sporting for approximately 3.3 million euros.

The interest in Bernal is part of a broader transfer strategy for Torino, which is making moves on multiple fronts simultaneously during this summer transfer window. The Granata club, led on the bench by new head coach Ignazio Abate, is seeking to build a competitive roster by making moves in various positions, with Petrachi particularly active in identifying players who fit the new coach’s technical vision.

On the outgoing front, however, Torino is determined to sell Cristiano Biraghi, who has gradually slipped down the team’s pecking order. The former Fiorentina winger earns a gross salary of 3 million euros per year—the highest on the roster after forwards Simeone and Adams—and the club is ready to consider any offer in order to reduce its payroll, even if it means accepting a sale at a discount. The former Fiorentina captain’s contract expires in 2027.